And now it’s October

I sound more and more like my mother – like everyone’s mother – every day. Where does the time go? Last time I looked it was mid-September, and now it’s rapidly closing in on mid-October. And when I try to figure out what I did in the past month, I can’t come up with a lot. Am I forgetting stuff? Perhaps. But I can’t do more than report what I can remember.

So the first thing I accomplished since my last post was finish my tunic sewn from my handwoven cloth. I used a few different techniques, in combination, to secure my cut edges. I used a very thin, knit, fusible tape along the edges. Easy enough on the straight pieces; I used lots of little pieces to go around curves. I also used a 3-step zigzag along the cut edges, on top of the fusible tape.

Since the sleeves had to be eased to set them in, I couldn’t use the fusible tape, so they went with just the 3-step zigzag.

And every seam got pressed open (sleeve seam pressed toward the body) and topstitched for even more assurance.

I got it done just in time to wear it on September 24th.

I’m happy with it overall. Again, I’d make a few small changes next time. The store-bought bias tape is a bit stiffer on the neckline than I’d like; next time perhaps a facing from the handwoven. I’d make the sleeves a bit shorter so I didn’t have to roll them up to be my desired length. I’d leave the body the whole length of the pattern, adding another inch or two to the total length.

I made a yummy batch of raspberry-peach jam, with berries from my garden and peaches I’d frozen.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time at my inkle loom. Doing a lot of pickup, which is a slow process. I can’t share more of my work than this at the moment, but I will give you the teaser below. And tell you that I’m working on what I hope will be a project I’ll submit to an upcoming show.

Other than that? Some of this and some of that. I’ve been doing garden cleanup. I’ve been helping out with my grandsons when I can. I’ve spent some amount of time, from a distance, helping to make sure that things are running smoothly at the Weaving & Fiber Arts Center. I’ve been text-banking for the Biden-Harris campaign.

I’m going to leave you with a few nature shots. My lovely Japanese dogwood. (Jack thinks he should eat whatever fruits fall or the squirrels knock down. They’re not poisonous or anything, but I will tell you we’re using a lot more poop bags these days.)